Key mechanism for typographic machines.



F. H. RICHARDS.

KEY MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAIHIG MACHINES. APPLICATION IIL ED MAR. 15, 1902. RENEWED MAY 15,1905.

9 L K O T m H m Q n H m. 8 3 2 s m n v w m n F m J F m 5 Ills t v H m 6 I t w m P. H. RICHARDS.

Patented Feb. 23, 1909. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

tnesses F. H. RICHARDS.

KEY MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHIG MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED MAR.15, 1902. RENEWED MAY 15,1905.

91 3,307.- Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

F. H. RICHARDS.

KEY MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHIG MAGHI APPLICATION PIL NBS.

15, 1905. Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

ED MAR. 15, 1902. RENEWED MAY 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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M m m I I b 2."

F. H. RICHARDS. KEY MECHANISM FOR. TYPOGRAPHIC MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15, 1902. RENEWED MAY 15,1905.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTIUUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 'IO AMERICAN TYPOGRAPHIC CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

KEY MECHANISM FOR TYP OGRAPHIC MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

Application filed March 15, 1902, Serial No. 98,285. Renewed May 15, 1905. Serial No. 260,585.

f0 all whom. it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key Mechanism for Typographic Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to the relationship and organization of various elements that may, either singly or collectively, enter into the construction ofmachines for typographic and other cognate uses; the application, to said elements, of the improvement embodied in this invention, effecting, in part, a comhination of elements, whereby any one of a series thereof, such, for instance, as type impressors or impression devices may be selectively operated by a single element, such, for instance, as a key.

In the form chosen herein to illustrate my invention, but. which is, in no wise, intended to limit the possible scope of said invention, l have shown a keyboard; a set of shiftable keys; a set of key-levers; connections from the latter, severally, to the respective members of a series of type-bars; the type-bars themselves, each having an impression device; a carriage, with a common form of platen, so-called; and spacing mechanism; some of the elements mentioned being of forms commonly in use and not, in any manner, exclusively appertaining to my invention. By the application of my invention thereto, however, as he'rein set forth, many of these elements are endowed with new functions, or with new-and improved means for performing functions that, in themselves,

may not be new. Thus, for instance, the keys are severally capable of operating, by

. improved means, any one of a plurality of key-levers; the latter, in turn, with their connections, are capable of severally determining the due proportion of space to be allotted to the respective connected impression devices. upon the operation of the latter; the spacing mechanism is capable of 't'urnishing to each, several, impression device, the due proportion of space allotted thereto by the operation of its relative keylever' and connections; and, in other ways, the specific mechanism herein shown and described, illustrates the applicability, to com mon devices, of the improvements embodied in my invention. It is quite evident, however, that said improvements may, either severally or collectively, be applied, in an equally eflicaeious manner, to other elements of the same general class, or to other combinations of the same elements.

The subject matter disclosed herein is closely related to that forth in my pending application, Serial No. 41,831 filed January 2, 1901. In the present case, however, I employ a shifter plate for transferring a key from operative engagement with one key lever into similar engagement with a different lever, instead of shifting the key bodily,

my other pending application.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is an elevation of a form of my improvements embodied in a typewriter machine, the mechanism of which is inclosed in a casing shown in section and, which is of a conventional form. The case of the machine is shown partly broken away and partly in section on the longitudinal center line AA, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof, a portion of the case at the left being shown broken away. Fig. l is a top plan view of a series of kcylev ers, of a portion of a shiftable plate, and of other members, the case of the machine being'part-ly broken away and partly in section on the lines a, a, Figs. 1 and 2, respectively. Fig.5 is a surface perspective view of a shiftable key-plate. Fig, 6 is a perspective View of the bottom'and right side of a spacing arm. Fig. 7is'a side elevation of a key and portions of several key levers; and illustrates various angular positions which may be assumed by the former relative to the latter, respectively. Figs. 8 and 9 are, respectively, front and side elevations of a part of a key. Fig. 10 is a plan of a section of a key and portions of several key-levers, and Fig. 11 is a vertical perspective rear view of a guide bar. References are relatively alike throughout the drawings. The terms zero, and zero osition, as used herein, indicate a position assumed by an element when prepared for use, but not in use.

In the conventional form of machine shown in the drawings, the mechanism is partly inclosed within, and partly mounted upon a case B, Which may comprise side, front and rear walls, 1)", b 6* respectively, and, in this instance, a key-board b, which is serially perforated to receive the stems of a series of keys 2, each of which comprises a contact piece 2, a stem 2" and a fingerbutton 2"; the term key being generically used herein, and intendedto include, not only such members as are shown, but also all manner of cognate devices. The several perforations b, in the key-board b, may be countersunk, respectively, from each side, as shown; inorder to permit the keystems 2", to oscillate therein with but a minimum of lost motion. A shifting-plate 3, is shiftably mounted in grooved guides C; the latter being fixed, respectively, on the interior of each side wall, and adjacent to the front, of the case B. The shifting-plate 3, (seeFig;5,) is slotted at 3" near each end,

-to receive the respective ends of the shifting levers 6; which, with a hand lever 6, are fixed on, and oscillate with, a fulcrum rod 7, which is mounted in bearings, located, respectively, at each side of the case B. On the handlever 6, may be fixed a spring 6; the free end of which may engage in the respective notches e, e, 6, formed in a locking plate E, which is fixed to the side of the case B. The'shifting plate 3, is serially perforated, to receive the contact-pieces 2; the perforations in the plate 3, being so disposed as to be, res ectively, at all times, in alinement, consi ered longitudinally with the machine, with those in the key-board b, but in transverse 'alinement with the latter, only when the former is practically, in .a median position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7. The perforations 3, in the shifting plate, may

be beveled from each side, relatively the same, and .for the same purpose, 'as is set forth in relation to the countersunk perforations 72' in the key-board b. The contact-' pieces 2', may consist offlat plates either severally integral with the respective keys 2,

or severally joined to the respective keystems 2", in any suitable manner; and their free ends will severally extend across respective roups of key-levers 4; the latter, collective y, forming a series, in which the members are, preferably, arranged face to face, vertically as to cross section, and parallel with each other. The key-levers 4, are piv oted on a common fulcrum rod D, adjacent to the base and to the rear wall of the case B, and the free ends of said levers areengaged a guiding member, hereinafter described.

The key-levers 4, may berespectively returned to their zero positions by the several teeth 5' of a comb-shaped spring member 5, fixed at the rear of the base of the machine. The key-levers 4, may be strips of any suitable material, with a projection 4', secured edgewise on each strip. The projections should all be, practically, on the same horizontal plane; the projections 4' being, preferably, of such linear dimensions, and so disposed, that in each group, of three for instance, they will be arranged consecutively adjacent, but slightly overlapped, relative to their positions longitudinally on the keylevers 4, but will severally be on approximately separate planes, transversely with said levers.

The several members of each group of levers, arranged as described, may be oper-' ated, respectively and singly, by a single key 2; the contact piece 2, of which, as hereinbefore mentioned, extends across the whole. particular group of levers. Other key levers 4, shown in Fig. 4 as lying separately from the several groups of levers hereinbefore mentioned, may severally have projections 4", thereon, respectively; the linear dimensions of the latter being approximately, equal to the totality of those of each several group of projections 4. Hence the key which 'in any given position is operative-to actuate one of these'levers 4 will remain in operative engagement therewith despite the shifting of the shifter plate. Provision thus exists for enabling a particular key or keys to produce the same result whatever be the position of the shifter plate. Cross-pins 2 in the key-stems 2", severally contact with the under side of the key-board b, and limit the upward movement of the keys 2, respectively. The guiding member F, hereinbefore referred to, is fixed at the lower part of the inside of the front wall of the case B, and comprises a bar F, and a plurality of interspaced transverse guiding 105 members f. The bar F, is grooved longitudinally at F and F' to receive strips f, of felt or similar non-resonant material.

-position by reason of their engagement in the perforations b, in the key-board b, and 3', in the shifting-plate 3, respectively, the latter being locked in a proper relative position by reason of its engagement with the shifting levers 6, which are mounted on and oscillate with the fulcrum rod 7, carrying the hand-lever 6, to which is attached the locking sprin 6", which is engaged in a notch in, an is lockedwith the locking plate E :-A key 2, being depressed, de-

resses, in turn, a key-lever 4, whose proection 4', lies immediately in contact with the contact piece 2 of said key, and whose free end is guided between members f, f, of the guiding member F; the movement of the key 2, and key-lever 4, being limited by the non-resonant strip f, located in the lower groove F, in the guiding member F. When the key '2, is released, it, and the lever 4, will be returned to their respective zero positions by a tooth 5, of the spring member 5; the upward movement of the lever 4, being limited by the non-resonant strip f in the upper groove F, of the guiding memberF and that of the key 2, by the crosspin 2 in the stem 2", thereof. Byamovement of the hand lever 6, sufiicient to cause the spring 6 to engage in a different notch in the locking plate E, the shifting plate 3, may be shifted and locked; thereby shifting all of the contact-pieces 2,' from their former positions and severally contacting all of them with other adjacent keylevers 4, respectively, except as hereinafter noted. Consequently, a depression of the key 2, before operated, will now efiect the depression of another key-lever 4, in like manner, as the key-lever formerly mentioned was depressed, and with the same relative results. The relations of the keylevers 4", with their respective contactpieces 2, will not, however, be effected by the shifting of the shifting plate 3; as the several projections 4", on the respective key-levers 4, and their several correlative contact-pieces 2', will, at all times, exclusively contact with each other; and thus, each key-lever 4" must, invariably and exclusively, be operated by eachand every depression of its correlative key 2. The nonresonant nature of the strips f, f, renders the contact of the key-levers therewith practic-ally noiseless.

It should be noted that the projections on the several key-levers are of suflicient height, relative to the latter, to permit a key to operate any one of the latter without contacting with adjacent key-levers. It should also be noted that the several engagements ofthe spring 6", in the notches e, e", 6, respectively, effect, by means of the handlever 6, fulcrum rod 7, and shifting levers 6, the latter engaging in the slots 3", in the shifting plate 3, different angular adjustments ofthe several keys 2, respectively, relative to the several projections 4, on the key levers 4,

- respectively; and, moreover, by reason of the slight overlapping of the'projections 4, on the key levers 4, the; shifting thereon of the contact-pieces 2, may be effected smoothly and with less effort than if said projections lay on entirely distinct transverse planes, relatively to the key levers 4; as, by the con struction shown, the contact-pieces are, in variably, in contact with a surface which is practically unbroken.

The links 8, connecting the key-levers 4,

4-',:t o the type-bars $1; the manner of mounting impression devices 9 upon the latter, and of impressing said devices: the annulus 13. receivin said t )e-bars and maintaining l a them in their zero positions; the so-called platen 10, and its functional operation, and

the carriage 12, are all of conventional forms in the present illustration and need no mention in this specification, further than to say that they are connected and operated in a common and conventional manner; That is to say: when a key-lever 4 or 4", is operated,

the link 8, connecting it with atype-bar E),

causes the latter to oscillate upon its pivot 8, thus bringing the impression device 9, mounted thereon, in contact with, and impressing it upon, material mounted upon the platen 10; which is rotatably mounted in the carriage 12. .Upon the return of the typc bar 9, it is received, and rests, within the annulus 13. Line-spacing ofthe impressed ma-v terial will, in the present illustration, be effected by rotating a conventional knurled wheel 10, which is mounted upon and retates with the spindle 10, of the platen 10.

Besides the projections 4 and 4", before referred to, other projections, 41*, are formed upon, or secured to, the levers 4 and 4; preferably, to the lower edges thereof. The projections 4, severally contact with a plurality of levers 14, 15 and 16, herein tentatively shown as three in number. The latter may be of the form of U-shaped universal bars, as shown, partly in dotted lines, in Fig. 4. Contact between the several bars .14, 15, 16, and the projections 4 is maintained by springs 14, 15, 16, secured on a bracket g, attached to the side of the case B; said springs severally impinging against the un der sides, respectively, of the arms 14", 15", 16", hereinafter mentioned. The barsl4, 15, 16, are preferably located on a common horizontal plane, beneath the key-levers, and are concentrically and severally attached, at one end to the solid shaft 14, and hollowshafts 15, 16, respectively, each of the shafts being independently oscillatable, relatively to the others; and at the other ends, the bars 14, 15, 16, may severally be pivoted on the shaft 14'. The shaft 16, may be peripherally journaled in the right wall of the case B; theshaft 15, may be journaled in the shaft l6, and the shaft 14, may be journaled, at one end, in the shaft 15, and at the other end, it may be journaled in the opposite wall of the case B. To these shafts, re spectively, are secured the several arms 14", 15 and 16; which oscillate with their re spective shafts. Thus, for instance, the u'niversal bar 14, shaft 14, and arm 14", necessarily oscillate with each other; as, also, do the several connected trains, 15, 15, 15"; and 16, 16, 16. The arms-14, 15's, 16", are severally furnished with pivots 14", 15", 16', which, severally, engage in the slotted ends 14, 15 16 of each of the links 14", 15 16",,1espectively, all of thelatter, at their other ends, having a common pivot 17,

which is fastened in one arm of a double armed lever 17, which is pivoted on a stud h,

which is secured to a bracket-G, which may be integral with the case B; The other arm of the lever 17, may be engaged by a helical spring 17f, which by means of the lever 17 and pivotf17', serves to maintain upward contact offthe slotted linl en(ls 1%, 15, 16*, and the arm-pivots 1 1', 15, 16. Also mounted, concentrically, on the stud h, are a gear-wheel 18, and a ratchet wheel 19, which rotate together on said stud. A pawl 17', mounted on the lever 17, operates the ratchet wheel 19, at each returning oscilla-,

tion of the lever 17. The gear-wheel 1'8, meshes with a pinion 18, mounted on a shaft 20, which is journaled in brackets G, which may be integral with the case B. The shaft 20, helically grooved at 20, in a portion of its length, which may be equal to the longest line of characters which itmay be 20; and also with a finger-piece 23", by.

which the frame 21, may be oscillated upon a rod 24, which forms part of the carriage 12; the latter being also provided with cross bars 12', adapted to travel upon the shaft 20, at the front of the machine, and on the guide rod K, at the rear ofthe machine.

The platen spindle 10, maybe additionally journaled in open bearings in the cross-bars .12 of the carriage; end-play of the former being prevented by suitable collars or shoulders thereon. The graduatedscale m, may be iinmovably mounted on the brackets G, and an index 25, mounted on the carriage 12, may be used to indicate the amount of space,

longitudinally of a line, allotted to each im-' pression or a totality of such allotments.

The operation of the members in'the'character-spacing train of mechanism may be described as follows:A key. lever, either 4 or at, being depressed, depresses,'in turn, a

universal bar; the particularoperative connection between the elements mentioned, be-

ing definedby the location of the specific projection P, on said key-lever. The depression of the universal bar, (14, 15 or 16,) effects, in turn, by means of its connected shaft, (14 15 or 16,) a depression of its particular arm, (14, 15." or 16",) which, by means of its pivot (14, 15' or 16"",) link, (14, 15 or 16,) and. the pivot 17, oscillates the lever 17 on the stud h.- Any arm 14", 15" or 16", may, because of the slots in the link-ends 14 15 16, be operated singly and independently of the others. It should be noted, in view of the description, hereinbefore given, of the operation of the impressing mechanism, that at this point in the operation of the character spacing mechanism, the impression of a character will position, effecting, meanwhile, however, by

means of the engagement of the pawl 17 with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 19, a-partial rotation of the latter with the connected gear wheel 18;and the latter, in turn, partially rotates the shaft .20, by means of the gear pinion 18, secured thereon.' The ro- ]6Cti0ll 23', if it be, at the time, engage in the groove 20', is propelled by the shaft 20, to a predetermined distance, equal to the space required by the impression last made; the difference in the spacin necessary for various impression devices, Tiein'g provided for by the adaptation of the respective proportionate lengths 'of the several-arm's 14 15 and 16", relatively, to effect such differential splacing; by which means, said arms 14', 15" and 16'', severally efiect different degrees of motion of the links 14 15 16", and the arm 17 pawl 17'", ratchet wheel 19, gear wheel 18, pinion 18", shaft 20, project-ion'23, arm 23, frame 21 and platen 10; the amount-of spacing, thus effected, being equal to the distance which the index 25, moves; as shown by the graduated scale ,m, by which means, also, the totality is shown, .of all spaces previously made in any particular line. The return of members to their respective zero ositions, is effected by the springs hereinbe ore mentioned.

Should" the shaft 20, need tobe rotatively adjusted in order to projection 23, as at the begmmng of a line,

or at any certain fpoint relative to the longi-'- tudinal motion 0 the carriage 12, such adproperly engage the justment may be effected by means of the knurled wheel 20". The platen 10, may be raised by the finger-piece 23, to permit inspection to be made of impressedvmaterial. Having described my invention, I claim 1. The combination with a plurality of levers disposed side by side and each having an actuator engaging face, saidv engagin faces occupying different positions-long1- tudinall-y of said levers, of an actuator extending transversely of the levers and having 'a length, measured in suchtransverse direction, which would enable it to operate all of the levers at each actuation, and a shifter plate for shifting the actuator lengthwise of the levers to thereby shift it out of cooperative relation with the engaging face or faces of a lever or levers and into such relation with the engaging face or faces of another lever or levers.

2. The combination with a plurality of levers provided with projections extending from one edge of the respective levers, of an actuator extending transversely of the levers and having a length, measured in such transverse direction, which would enable it to operate all of the levers ateach actuation, and'a shifter plate for shifting the actuator lengthwise of the levers to thereby shift it out of cooperative relation with a projec- 'tion or projections on one of the levers and into such relation with a projection or pro- 'jections on another lever or levers;

a 3. The combination with a plurality of levers disposed sideby side and each having anactuator engaging face, said engaging faces occupying different positions longitudinally of said levers, of an actuator extending transversely of the levers and having a length, measured in such transverse direction, which would enable it to operate all of the levers at each actuation, and a shifter plate through which the actuator extendsand which is shiftable lengthwise ofthe levers and is constructed and adapted for shifting the lower end of the actuator out of cooperative relation with the engaging face or faces of a lever or levers and into such relation with the engaging face or faces of another lever or levers.

4. The combination with a plurality of levers, disposed side by side and each hav ingan engaging face, of a push rod for actuating the levers, afoot piece secured to the push rod for engaging said faces and extending transversely over said levers, and

v a shifter plate through which the foot-piece extends and which is located adjacent to the lower end of the rod. v

5. The combination of a plurality of groups of key levers, an actuator associated with each group and each adapted to Iactu ate at will 'a predetermined lever of the group with which it is associated, each actuator extending transversely acrossall of the levers with which it is associated, a shifter plate through which said actuators extend,

and guides for said plate for permitting movement thereof 'in the direction of the length of the levers.

6. The combination with a plurality of. groups of key levers disposed side by side,

of a shifter plate shiftable in the-line of len h of the levers, a push rod associated' wit each group of levers, and a foot piece secured to each push rod and extending transversely across all of the levers of the group with which it is associated, said levers having. projections with which the foot pieces of the associated push rods are adapted to contact i'n'lsome position of the shifter plate. I

7. The combination with a plurality of levers, of a number of push rods for actuating the same, a shifter plate throughwhich the push rodsrextend, a hand lever for'shifting the shifter plate, and a-detent forliolding the hand lever in an adjusted position.

8.- The combination with a plurality of leversdisposed side by side each of said shifter plate for shifting the actuator length W-ise of the levers to thereby shift it out of cooperative position with a lever and into such relation withanother lever, each of such levers having an engaging face with which the foot piece of the actuator is ada ted to engage .in some position of the shi er late.

.10. T e combination with a'plurality of levers disposed side by side and arranged in groups, of an actuator extending transversely of the levers in each group and hav ing .a length measured in such transverse direction which will enable it to operate all 'of the levers in said roup at each actuation, and a shifter-plate for shifting the actuator lengthwise ofthe lever to thereby 'shift it out of cooperative relation with all but one lever and into such relation with such lever,'each of such levers having an engaging face with which the foot iece of the ,sonie posiactuator is ada ted to engage in ,tion of the shi ter plate. FRANCIS H. RICHA DS.

Witnesses:

FRED. J. DOLE, JoHN O. SEIFERT. 

